Environment police join illegal poultry trade fight
The environment police nationwide will lend a hand in preventing the dangerous avian influenza currently striking other nations entering the country.
Bird flu strains H7N9, H10N8, H5N2, H6N1 and H5N1 are circulating in many countries and territories in Asia and those neighbouring Vietnam. The disease is developing in a complicated manner in both poultry and humans.
In Vietnam, A/H5N1 flu had by February 18 affected poultry bred in 11 provinces and cities and shows signs of spreading fast.
The Environment Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security on February 20 said its force continues to deploy measures to put off the trade and transport of smuggled poultry and related products.
It will work closely with other forces such as customs and market management to reinforce inspections at breeding farms, markets selling live poultry and areas where a bird flu outbreak could occur to promptly take measures to prevent the disease spreading.
Earlier, the northern border provinces were asked to intensify prevention measures against avian influenza strains H5N1 and H7N9, which are likely to spread in the coming time.
At an online meeting with localities on February 18, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said the dangerous H7N9 strain has been identified in several neighbouring countries, requesting ministries and forces to work closely with border areas to thwart cross-border poultry smugglers.
According the Veterinary Department, no H7N9 cases have been recorded in Vietnam so far.